BET

By Bola Babs
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
bola@nigeriahorizon.com

“Bola, yours is a voice not often heard.  You should learn to use it more often!”  This is what my high school teacher said to me on reading my in-class essays.  Truthfully, she is a wise teacher, for it was only as the years progressed that I discovered my voice became my trademark.  I got criticized if and when I used my voice and/or when I chose to be silent, I got criticized for not using it at all!  

Infact, I am learning and still learning to adapt to challenges that I encounter alongside voicing out my opinion, either through my public speaking and/or my singing abilities by not allowing it to tread on my individuality.  Instead, it ought to be to inspire and motivate me into getting to a higher level by making use of only the most important criticism of all times - constructive criticism.  Well, I must also confess my findings were a stark realization that individuals were more than likely to criticize anything and everything that challenges their norms or makes them question or think outside the box, their personal and/or societal norms, be it social, political or religious views etc.

Having said this, I think it’s time I voice out my unfavorable opinion of the portrayal of women on BET - “Black Entertainment Television”, which for the focus of discussion, I would like to call, “Body Exploitation Television.” 

Are you tired as I am of the portrayal of women on BET?  I really do not know the group of women BET represents, but it sure doesn’t represent me as a woman or any of the women I know! The distastefully dressed women, scantily clad women, parading around in the skimpiest of clothing to nothing suggests women as desperate ‘wanna-bes’ who will do anything for anything. 

Here I am, with my popcorn in hand, on a Friday night flipping through the channels looking for some sort of substitute to ‘home away from home’, other than home videos by seeking solace on BET.  I craved to at least savor a sense of ‘soul food pride’ even if only briefly, distinct from an all too familiar, stereotypical depiction of hungry/needy individuals often emphasized on ‘world vision’ or ‘operation-feed-a-starved-nation’ images.  But, instead, I see music videos - Music videos again??? 

Once again, it’s the same scenario of naked women dancing in the midst of a handful of males wearing enough accessories to stock up a jeweler’s store.  Do I hear you say change the channel then?  Well, just in case you haven’t noticed, that’s the only 24hr station that some of us derive the satisfaction of having a sense of belonging! 

This portrayal of women further enhances the stereotypes that women are objects to be played with, all body and no brains.  It depicts our beauty as useful toys that come in all shapes and sizes, yet can be easily disposed of when no longer required.

In all honesty, beauty is still very much in the eyes of the beholder and I do not believe that in order to appreciate beauty in a woman, she must be dressed so provocatively or be stark naked.  A woman’s beauty is emphasized in how well she portrays herself, her self-respect, attitude and character.  If a woman’s only asset is how she looks then technically it wouldn’t last very long (it does come with an expiration tag), hence the more reason why cosmetics surgery is increasing rapidly in the 21st century. 

I seriously thought this flyer was a joke when I found out a Detroit promoter from downtown Detroit, in October of 2007 decided to design his promotional flyer with the caption “Light Skinned Women & All Libra’s Free Entry All Night.”  I must admit that I was appalled at such a distasteful excuse for a designed flyer.  How ignorant?  Once again, we see evidence of how women are constantly being exploited via the media.  Media portrayal of us as women in such television networks like BET further strengthens these stereotypes in their use of not only naked women but also a certain color and/or size of women.  The constant depiction of body exploitation includes everything from bare-it-all image to our body size and/or skin tone.

Why does all emphasis have to be placed on our looks as women?  We should not have to meet the criteria of society on what is considered beautiful.  In other words, we strive to meet the criteria placed on us by the opposite sex on how we ought to look. If so, how then can we maintain our self-respect and dignity if we conform to the norms of media images of women?

Although BET, like other media stations is a form of entertainment, we as women ought to distinguish it only asuch and understand that there is a very thin line between reality and fantasy.  The fantasy of a media interpreter is simply “fantasy” and it doesn’t necessarily speak for everyone at large.  In other words, what we watch on television should not take precedent over our lives.  Moreover, we as women have control over the choices we make and only give up that self-control and self-respect when we allow body exploitation to dominate our lives. Just because a woman on BET has her promiscuous image alongside a gorgeous male doesn’t necessarily imply that by so doing in reality, the likes of Morris Chestnut, Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD) and/or Van Vicker will pop up the question, will you marry me? without a flick of an eye.  How can you ever go wrong with a good name mixed with a blend of classy and sassy?  It is all in the matter of preference!

Here is my proposal, a newer and improved 24hr television network possibly in addition to BET, which will feature and enhance the best of distinct women and moreover, a fair representation of all women at large…hmmm…and it ought to be captioned, “Black Excellence Entertainment Television” - BEET …(work with me on this …sounds like a plan, don’t you think?)

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